Buttermilk Brined Crock Pot Cornish Hen Recipe 445 Food

HERB-BRINED CORNISH GAME HENS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, sage, garlic, thyme, rosemary and 1 quart water. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir until salt and sugar are dissolved. Remove from the heat. Add the cold water to cool the brine to room temperature., Place a turkey-sized oven roasting bag inside a second roasting bag; add hens. Carefully pour cooled brine into bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible; seal bags and turn to coat. Place in a roasting pan. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours, turning occasionally. Drain and discard brine; pat hens dry., Meanwhile, place the peppercorns and garlic in a food processor; cover and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add the butter, 3 tablespoons olive oil and herbs; cover and process until smooth. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from hens; rub half the butter mixture under skin. Secure skin to underside of breast with toothpicks; tie drumsticks together. Rub remaining butter mixture over skin., In a 15x10x1-in. baking pan, toss the Brussels sprouts and onions with remaining olive oil, salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer. Place hens, breast side up, on top of the vegetables. Bake at 450° until thermometer inserted in breast reads 165°, 35-40 minutes. Cover loosely with foil if hens brown too quickly., Remove hens and vegetables to a serving platter; cover and let stand for 10 minutes before carving. If desired, garnish with additional herbs.

BRICK CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Make the brine: Bring 1 1/2 gallons water and 1/3 cup salt to a boil in a large pot, whisking until the salt dissolves. Remove from the heat. Add the lemon halves, tarragon, parsley, garlic, bay leaves and peppercorns; let cool completely.
• Place the hens breast-side down on a cutting board. Use kitchen shears to cut along either side of the backbone to remove. Turn the hens breast-side up and open so the drumsticks point out; press the breastbone firmly to flatten. Submerge the hens in the brine and refrigerate at least 6 hours and up to 12 hours.
• Remove the hens from the brine and rinse well; pat dry. Place breast-side up in a baking dish and refrigerate, uncovered, to dry out the skin, at least 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle the hens with salt. Wrap 2 bricks with foil. Heat 1 tablespoon each olive oil and butter in each of 2 large nonstick or cast-iron skillets over medium-high heat. Add 1 hen, skin-side down, to each skillet and scatter the thyme and garlic around it. Top each hen with a foil-wrapped brick and sear until beginning to brown, about 20 minutes, rotating the pans as needed for even cooking. Remove the bricks and carefully flip the hens (do not replace the bricks); continue cooking until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F, 20 to 25 more minutes. Cut each hen in half and serve with the romesco and chimichurri sauces.
• Romesco Sauce
• Toss 1/2 pound plum tomatoes and 4 garlic cloves (unpeeled) with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; spread on a baking sheet. Roast at 350 degrees F until soft, 20 minutes; let cool, then squeeze out the garlic. Combine the tomatoes, garlic, 3/4 cup chopped roasted red peppers, 1/4 cup sherry vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and a pinch of red pepper flakes in a blender; blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl; stir in 1/2 cup chopped toasted almonds. Slowly drizzle in 1/3 cup olive oil, whisking.
• Basil Chimichurri
• Put 6 garlic cloves (unpeeled) on a sheet of foil; drizzle with olive oil and seal into a packet. Roast at 350 degrees F until soft, about 20 minutes; let cool. Squeeze out the garlic cloves and mash into a paste. Combine 1 bunch basil (cut into thin ribbons), 1 bunch finely chopped parsley, 1/4 bunch finely chopped oregano, 1/3 cup sherry vinegar, 2 finely chopped shallots, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and pepper to taste. Slowly drizzle in 1/3 cup olive oil, whisking.

SLOW COOKER CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Take the Cornish hens and rinse and pat dry with a paper towel.
• Combine the onion powder, garlic powder, rosemary, and ground black pepper into a small bowl. Mix well.
• Rub the cornish hens with the seasoning mixture.
• Spray the slow cooker with the nonstick cooking spray.
• Place some of the potatoes and the baby carrots into the slow cooker and spread into an even layer.
• Place the cornish hens on top of the vegetables, and then place any remaining vegetables around the hens.
• Add the chicken broth to the slow cooker and then cover and cook for 8 hours on low.
• Carefully remove the cornish hens and vegetables from the slow cooker to a serving platter. Serve.

BUTTERMILK BRINED CORNISH HENS RECIPE - (4.2/5)

Steps:

• Rinse the Cornish hens under cool water, including the cavity. Pat dry with paper towels, set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, salt, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, cumin and lime juice. Place the hens breast side down and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator. Let the hens brine for at least 3 hours, or overnight. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Take the hens out of the brine and lightly pat dry with paper towels. Season the cavities with a little salt and pepper, and insert half a lemon and a sprig of thyme. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine. Brush the hens with melted butter, and season generously with salt and pepper. Place in a roasting pan. If you wish, you can surround the hens with red potatoes, brushed with butter and seasoned with salt and pepper. Place in the middle rack of the oven. Roast the hens for 50 minutes to 1 hour; until the skin is bronzed and the internal temperature in thickest part of the thigh is about 180°F.

SLOW COOKER CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Coat the hens with about 1/4 of the mushroom soup.
• Mix the remaining mushroom soup with mushrooms, olives, zucchini, and garlic salt in a bowl. Stuff the mixture inside the hens. Arrange hens, breast sides up, in the slow cooker. Spoon any remaining soup mixture over the hens.
• Cook the hens in the slow cooker on High for 4 hours.

BUTTERMILK BRINED CROCK POT CORNISH HEN RECIPE - (4.4/5)

Steps:

• To make the brine: whisk together the buttermilk, paprika, onion powder, granulated garlic, salt and pepper. Pour brine over hen, cover and refrigerate several hours or over night. Discard brine and place hen in Crock Pot. Rough chop the potatoes and add to the Crock Pot along with carrots. Top with parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Cook on high for 4 hours or until meat thermometer reads 180 degrees.